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[av_heading heading=’Love in the time of Bacunaua’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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January 22, 2018
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XLV. FUNKY SALUTE
People describe sorrow as a pain in their heart. They do not point to the head, or anywhere else — they point to the heart.
*
Matt opened his eyes.
Dulce pushed him away, No!
A shock on Dulce’s face.
She was pale as if struck by a great force.
As she looked beyond Matt’s shoulder, her breathing was strained, as if the breath had been knocked out of her.
*
A sadness caressed Matt’s face.
Slowly, he turned to follow Dulce’s gaze.
He saw Emilio, in a dazzling white outfit, almost luminous, across the dance floor waving at Dulce.
Emilio! Dulce cried.
Then her tears began to fall, a virtual broken faucet once again.
Choking on tears, she cried, Emilio, it is you!
She pushed Matt out of her way.
*
With tears streaming down her face, she ran to embrace Emilio.
Emilio welcomed her in his arms, kissed her on the forehead.
She kissed him all over.
Matt’s face crumpled into a frown, something stung his eye.
He forced a smile, but his tears fell uncontrollably.
One teardrop fell on his white suit.
So hot it almost bore a hole.
*
His tears continued to fall.
His eyes, a salty river.
He dried his tears as he looked at Dulce and Emilio.
He saw them kissing, biting each other’s lips off.
Is that even human?
Biting each other’s lips off?
*
He should be happy for them.
Or, at least, for her.
Emilio was the one whom she wanted.
She was never his before he met her.
How could he stand in the way of her happiness?
*
How could he regret the moments spent with her?
How could he blame the moon, or the myth?
How could he not love her?
*
Forcing yet another nice guy smile, Matt gave them his signature funky salute as a way of saying goodbye. (The End)
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